Original Item: Only One Available. After the end of WWII, USGI's brought home a multitude of German WWII items, including all types of medals, awards, and other memorabilia. By the late 1940s, there was a booming collector's market for these items, and many dealers were making trips to Germany to bring back masses of militaria for the market. Among the most sought after items of all were those related to the infamous German SS organization. Original SS items were quickly exhausted, however the demand still existed.

During the immediate post war period, many companies in Germany still had stocks of components for many of these items, and firms began assembling badges using these old stock parts, sometimes utilizing some replica components. Rudolf Souval of of Vienna was one company that is known to have produced 4 and 8 year SS Long service medals circa 1946 for the collecting market. In 1947 the NSDAP symbols were banned in Germany and Austria, so then production ceased.

We have examined this example of an 8 Year SS long Service award, and it conforms to the design seen on circa 1946 post war examples made by Rudolf Souval of Vienna. It is in very good condition, with a lovely patina of age, and the ribbon in great shape. A great way to fill a hole in your collection at an economical price!

SS Long Service Awards (German: SS-Dienstauszeichnungen) were given in grades of four years, eight years, twelve years, and twenty-five years. The four and eight-year service awards were in the form of circular medals which show the years of service on the back, while the 12 and 25-year service awards were in the form of swass (hook crosses). The SS service awards were designed in Munich by Professor Karl Diebitsch. The awards varied in design depending on the length of service of the recipient. All featured the main design of a large swas with an oak wreath surrounding the ᛋᛋ doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) in the center. According to historian Chris Ailsby the awards ceased to be given at the end of 1941.

The award was first introduced by Adolf AH on 30 January 1938. On its reverse side, each award had emblazoned the inscription, in German: FÜR TREUE DIENSTE IN DER ᛋᛋ ("For Loyal Service in the SS"). The medal was awarded to SS members in the SS-Verfügungstruppe, SS-Totenkopfverbände and the SS-Junkerschule who served honorably and were on active service.

The four-year and eight-year awards were the most common awards. Despite the fact that the whole NSDAP movement lasted for little over 25 years (1919-1945) and the SS were founded only in 1925, awards of the 25-year version were made well before 25 years of actual service were completed. This was because the period between 1925 and 1933 (what the NSDAPs termed Kampfzeit ("Time of Struggle") counted double, and any service in the Armed Forces in the First World War and afterwards, as well as the Police, was also included. Nevertheless, it was one of the rarer awards given out by NSDAP Germany.